THE mayor of Evesham, Councillor Frances Smith has invited Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt to visit Evesham Community Hospital.

"I want them to see for themselves the excellent services provided and the extremely dedicated staff at Evesham Community Hospital, in fact, a Community Hospital that works in the community for the community," she said.

Her letter to Downing Street was revealed by David Barlow, the chairman, at a meeting of the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust when he accused her of giving false information about PCT funding.

The mayor said she was not sure how Mr Barlow knew about her letter as she thought it inappropriate to copy her personal letter to anyone else. It seemed that the Prime Minister's office had sent a copy to Mr Barlow.

She said: "I have figures which prove to me in simple terms that South Worcestershire PCT is under-funded by some £145 head of population, which probable equates to something like £40 million in total.

"I guess the situation with the PCT is that more and more directives are issued from the centre without matching funding being provided, that is equitable funding which would solve some if not all of the PCT's current financial problems."

She pointed out health was not the only area which suffered financially under such formula funding. Worcestershire, in general, was not, in her opinion, fairly funded in other areas such as education.

Parna Taylor, scheduling manager for Mr Blair, has acknowledged receipt of the letter and added: "This is receiving attention and a reply will be sent to you as soon as possible."

On funding, Mr Barlow said the PCT was within 1.25 per cent of capitation and the Department for Health said that was satisfactory. "There is no point in putting hope in any special pleadings for more cash," he said.

l SIR Michael Spicer, MP for West Worcestershire, has set up a meeting with David Barlow, chairman of South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, and Mike Ridley, chief executive, next Wednesday.

Sir Michael especially wants to raise with them the question of how they intend to finance the new hospital in Malvern and the health centres in Malvern and Upton when they are apparently in the midst of such deep financial problems involving, it would seem, cuts and closures in other hospitals such as the Evesham Community Hospital.

He said: "If I achieve nothing else this summer, I do want to press on the authorities the need for some certainty and credibility in their planning of our health services throughout the county."